It's official. I have been offered and have taken a job at the University of Minnesota. The position I got is Associate Editor/Technical Writer in the Office of Communication and Advancement, which is a sub section of the Office of Information and Technology. The OIT is responsible for implementing new technological projects throughout the university. Right now, they are working on bringing wireless internet to the entire campus. This is something I feel I can help them with. Coming from a wireless campus, I have pretty good understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of working on a wireless campus.
I am really excited for this opportunity. This job is a perfect match for my skills. It's almost like they designed this job specifically for me. I will be performing a wide range of tasks in this position. I will be writing technical documentation for the technological projects that the OIT is working on. I will also be writing news articles that will be posted on the office's website. Also, I will be editing my colleagues work. I will also be working with the web designers to help make the website more navigable.
It all sounds really exciting to me. I am happy I will be making 40,000 dollars a year with full benefits. To me, it sounds like a great place to start a Tech Comm career. I'll keep you all posted after I actually start and can be more specific about my job duties.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
What the Future Holds
I'm excited to report that it is official! I have been offered, and have accepted, a position in the People Development & Diversity division of Human Resources at the Goddard Space Flight Center (NASA) in Greenbelt Maryland. I will be working there from June 2nd to August 8. After that, I have a vast array of options open, I could continue working with NASA (if there is a fit and I like it) but only as a student, which means I'd have to find a way to afford grad school in Maryland (which would be cool because there is a "Human Centered Computing" MS that I am very interested in)... or, I can (and will probably be more likely to) return to California and take up the MBA program at Cal Poly. Either way, I'm excited for what the summer holds and for what having NASA on my resume might do for my marketability!
As we approach graduation (holy smokes it's less than 2 weeks now), I am optimistic and in great anticipation for what the future holds; not just for myself, but for my other fellow TCOM graduates. Make sure "ya'll" keep in touch now! :-)
As we approach graduation (holy smokes it's less than 2 weeks now), I am optimistic and in great anticipation for what the future holds; not just for myself, but for my other fellow TCOM graduates. Make sure "ya'll" keep in touch now! :-)
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Saying goodbye
I am in the process of finishing up my final semester here at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, and as these past five years comes to a close I realize how much my time here has meant to me. I am proud of myself that I did not waste my time. I am sad that I am leaving but excited about the future - for those of you who don't know, I am moving to Dallas, Texas to work as the Assistant Layout Editor and a writer/copy editor for a newspaper in Dallas. It's a huge change and of course there are a milieu of things going through my brain, but I feel that my time as a technical communication student has prepared me for fully optimizing my potential in the real world.
My advice to those who have not had their stint in the real world: don't sweat it. The world is full of people who think they are better than you, but do not let them intimidate you because they are suffering from deluded complexes.
Work yourself to the brink at Stout. Learn as much as you can, develop as many tech comm skills as you can possible pull out of yourself.
Speak with your professors, even if you don't like them. Bother them in their offices, run them down on the sidewalk and greet them in the hallways. As contacts and resources, they will help you out later in life more than you realize, and once you're out there trying to make it, you will need all the help you can get.
Start early. Freelance while you're still a student, even if it's just simple things like making a poster for a band or helping somebody edit a brochure...everyone is useful as a networking tool. The more experience you get working as a client, the more desirable you are to those who would hire you. Keep track of anything and everything you do in school; they might be excellent for items in your portfolio. Make things on your own just for fun and for God's sake, Learn Photoshop!
My advice to those who have not had their stint in the real world: don't sweat it. The world is full of people who think they are better than you, but do not let them intimidate you because they are suffering from deluded complexes.
Work yourself to the brink at Stout. Learn as much as you can, develop as many tech comm skills as you can possible pull out of yourself.
Speak with your professors, even if you don't like them. Bother them in their offices, run them down on the sidewalk and greet them in the hallways. As contacts and resources, they will help you out later in life more than you realize, and once you're out there trying to make it, you will need all the help you can get.
Start early. Freelance while you're still a student, even if it's just simple things like making a poster for a band or helping somebody edit a brochure...everyone is useful as a networking tool. The more experience you get working as a client, the more desirable you are to those who would hire you. Keep track of anything and everything you do in school; they might be excellent for items in your portfolio. Make things on your own just for fun and for God's sake, Learn Photoshop!
How do I post blog?
Hello all, Kevin here finally posting on this blog.
So I sit here attempting to figure out what to say and I have a feeling I'm just going to end up rambling for a long time about nothing. But here goes!
As of March I received news that I was accepted for my internship at Thomson West! Check the link after the jump. At any rate, I'll be doing work in the Search Marketing department helping do research in search optimization and reporting findings. Should be an interesting new experience.
Other than that I really don't have much else to say. I used to do some blogging back in the day (on a little thing known as Xanga from waaaaay back when). But it really had nothing interesting to say. Hmm, kind of like right now. Oh well...
So I sit here attempting to figure out what to say and I have a feeling I'm just going to end up rambling for a long time about nothing. But here goes!
As of March I received news that I was accepted for my internship at Thomson West! Check the link after the jump. At any rate, I'll be doing work in the Search Marketing department helping do research in search optimization and reporting findings. Should be an interesting new experience.
Other than that I really don't have much else to say. I used to do some blogging back in the day (on a little thing known as Xanga from waaaaay back when). But it really had nothing interesting to say. Hmm, kind of like right now. Oh well...
Thursday, April 17, 2008
A long journey in such a short time...
Hello all. My name is Katie Thiel. I am a graduate of the Technical Communication program (May '07) and former STC President. I have read many of the posts on the blog. I think this is a great way for past and present Tech. Comm. students to communicate!
I guess I wanted to give a little bit about my story. My title of this post is "A long journey in such a short time..." It definitely has been. I started looking for an internship in the Fall of 2005. I scored a great opportunity in a small town, near my hometown at a company called Magnum Products LLC (www.m-p-llc.com). I currently work there today! Through my time there, during my internship and full-time employment, I have held four different jobs, and now, I would have to say is my favorite position yet! I am now Project Coordinator. Having the opportunity to work with all the departments within the company has been such an eye-opening experience for me. I am able to use my documentation, communication, and social skills to help maintain and drive projects from conception to completion. It's really rather interesting. Yes, the company does build a unique product, not one that many hear of (trash pumps, Mr. Livesey), but all I have to say is, no matter what the company makes, produces, whatever, if you love your job, it makes all the difference.
My best advice for those who are about to graduate: keep an open mind and try you best. There were times I questioned whether I should do something different, but I stuck with it, and I am super happy that I did!
I guess I wanted to give a little bit about my story. My title of this post is "A long journey in such a short time..." It definitely has been. I started looking for an internship in the Fall of 2005. I scored a great opportunity in a small town, near my hometown at a company called Magnum Products LLC (www.m-p-llc.com). I currently work there today! Through my time there, during my internship and full-time employment, I have held four different jobs, and now, I would have to say is my favorite position yet! I am now Project Coordinator. Having the opportunity to work with all the departments within the company has been such an eye-opening experience for me. I am able to use my documentation, communication, and social skills to help maintain and drive projects from conception to completion. It's really rather interesting. Yes, the company does build a unique product, not one that many hear of (trash pumps, Mr. Livesey), but all I have to say is, no matter what the company makes, produces, whatever, if you love your job, it makes all the difference.
My best advice for those who are about to graduate: keep an open mind and try you best. There were times I questioned whether I should do something different, but I stuck with it, and I am super happy that I did!
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
The BS vs MS Dilemma
I'm finding myself at a bit of a deciding-point regarding the job search. I had been looking for the last 2-3 months in the Twin Cities Metro area and have had little to no success. Many of the jobs I found in a field related to Tech Comm (or the field itself) ended up wanting a BS and like 5 years of experience post-grad (or they wanted an MS). Um HELLO!? How can anyone start a career if their BS isn't enough? How can people expect us to get our careers started this way? Now granted, as Livesey mentioned, that can be a hopeful not a requirement--but the jobs I applied for all turned me down citing that very fact--lack of experience. The only jobs I can find that I'd likely get, pay $10 an hour and are crummy service jobs. How can I build 5 years of experience working in the field if I'm reduced to a job at Target in the check-out lane?! I'm frustrated! Maybe it's just the market in TC area, I've heard other people in other fields say that it's just saturated and not much to be found.
On another note, I have been talking with a woman from NASA Goddard Space Center in Maryland (6 miles from DC)--she had made it seem like she had a job offer to make (at first). Now, I'm not quite so sure there's going to be any decisions made any time soon. I keep getting bounced around in e-mail messages and no follow-up interviews have been set. Since it's getting so clsoe to G-Day (graduation) I think I'm going to make the plan to fly back to California now. Stay with the folks, look for a crappy job, (I figure if I have to take a crappy job I might as well have one in sunny & warm rather than frozen & dull) then see what happens. I would like to start doing some freelance work (writing / design) for local non-profits. I think that would be a good start. Once I get established, I will begin applying for Grad School (probably at CalPoly in the town my parents live in).
So, that's my plan, Californa or bust! Hopefully not bust!
I don't blame the degree, I don't blame the school, I don't attribute this to any lack of performance or ability on my part--I simply think the job market right now is very ill-tempered and difficult.... Darn politicians!
On another note, I have been talking with a woman from NASA Goddard Space Center in Maryland (6 miles from DC)--she had made it seem like she had a job offer to make (at first). Now, I'm not quite so sure there's going to be any decisions made any time soon. I keep getting bounced around in e-mail messages and no follow-up interviews have been set. Since it's getting so clsoe to G-Day (graduation) I think I'm going to make the plan to fly back to California now. Stay with the folks, look for a crappy job, (I figure if I have to take a crappy job I might as well have one in sunny & warm rather than frozen & dull) then see what happens. I would like to start doing some freelance work (writing / design) for local non-profits. I think that would be a good start. Once I get established, I will begin applying for Grad School (probably at CalPoly in the town my parents live in).
So, that's my plan, Californa or bust! Hopefully not bust!
I don't blame the degree, I don't blame the school, I don't attribute this to any lack of performance or ability on my part--I simply think the job market right now is very ill-tempered and difficult.... Darn politicians!
Different Kinds of Interviews
Recently I had the opportunity to interview with a Boulder, CO based solar company. Having never had an interview before, I didn't know what to expect except for what we were told by the tech comm program director, Matt Livesey and other stories that were told by my peers. So, somewhat nervous, I sliced my hair off, borrowed some clothes from my older brother and headed off toward Denver for the interview.
We met at The Watercourse, an all vegetarian restaurant near downtown Denver, which gave me the impression that they were very earth conscious people and likely of a liberal perspective. This, fortunate enough for me, was perfect because my girlfriend is a staunch vegetarian (which basically makes me one as well) and I myself am of a rather liberal perspective.
I arrived 10 minutes early; they arrived 10 minutes late.
We started things off with a round of freshly squeezed mimosas giving me the impression that it was going to be a rather laid back interview. The interviewing team was comprised of two males and one female, and they were very friendly from the start. The interview itself was more of a personality game more than anything, as we simply talked casually about my interests, made random jokes, spoke a little bit about the company, and briefly touched on the certainty of a "green revolution" (the rapid transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy).
The interview lasted about two hours and four rounds of mimosas, and by the end of it all we really seemed to be hitting it off, joking around and speaking with sarcastic tongues. We hadn't really covered any of the questions that I had prepared myself for ("Why do you feel you'd benefit our company?"; "What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?"; "Are you a Republican?") but I managed to work a few of my prepared answers into our conversations. I felt as though they were more assessing me with regard to whether or not I would "fit in" with the company attitude, rather than whether I was skilled and/or qualified to fit the open position. In fact, by the end of the interview as we were walking out of the restaurant, they asked me if I was going to be hanging around the area for the evening, and whether or not I wanted to meet them for drinks in the evening. Since I was staying with some friends just outside of Boulder, I agreed to meet them, and suggested the Mountain Sun Brewery (a microbrewery on Pearl Street in Boulder that is run off solar power). They said that they would be there at 8:00.
The evening went well, and my time spent at The Waterfront showed to pay off, as Mountain Sun's beers ranged from 10% Double IPAs to 12% Stouts, and a less experienced microbeer drinker would have been floored in no time. The evening proceeded with typical bar talk, again never really touching on the job itself, and by the end of the night they had offered me the job (well, an internship).
It just goes to show that every interview can be different.
We met at The Watercourse, an all vegetarian restaurant near downtown Denver, which gave me the impression that they were very earth conscious people and likely of a liberal perspective. This, fortunate enough for me, was perfect because my girlfriend is a staunch vegetarian (which basically makes me one as well) and I myself am of a rather liberal perspective.
I arrived 10 minutes early; they arrived 10 minutes late.
We started things off with a round of freshly squeezed mimosas giving me the impression that it was going to be a rather laid back interview. The interviewing team was comprised of two males and one female, and they were very friendly from the start. The interview itself was more of a personality game more than anything, as we simply talked casually about my interests, made random jokes, spoke a little bit about the company, and briefly touched on the certainty of a "green revolution" (the rapid transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy).
The interview lasted about two hours and four rounds of mimosas, and by the end of it all we really seemed to be hitting it off, joking around and speaking with sarcastic tongues. We hadn't really covered any of the questions that I had prepared myself for ("Why do you feel you'd benefit our company?"; "What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?"; "Are you a Republican?") but I managed to work a few of my prepared answers into our conversations. I felt as though they were more assessing me with regard to whether or not I would "fit in" with the company attitude, rather than whether I was skilled and/or qualified to fit the open position. In fact, by the end of the interview as we were walking out of the restaurant, they asked me if I was going to be hanging around the area for the evening, and whether or not I wanted to meet them for drinks in the evening. Since I was staying with some friends just outside of Boulder, I agreed to meet them, and suggested the Mountain Sun Brewery (a microbrewery on Pearl Street in Boulder that is run off solar power). They said that they would be there at 8:00.
The evening went well, and my time spent at The Waterfront showed to pay off, as Mountain Sun's beers ranged from 10% Double IPAs to 12% Stouts, and a less experienced microbeer drinker would have been floored in no time. The evening proceeded with typical bar talk, again never really touching on the job itself, and by the end of the night they had offered me the job (well, an internship).
It just goes to show that every interview can be different.
Job Searching
I'm still job searching after Findlaw told me they are "moving on with candidates with more experience." Possibilities I'm looking into are Fredrickson Communications in the cities and web design firms in the cities. My freelance client is also going to pass my resume around to company presidents that he knows through bring on the UWRF industry advisory board. If I somehow don't land a job by graduation then I will be freelancing from home until I land a full time job.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Interview at the University of Minnesota
This past Friday, I interviewed at the University of Minnesota for a Technical Writer position in the Office of Information and Technology. Actually, it was in the Office of Communication and Advancement, which is within the Office of Information and Technology. God bless bureaucracy. I just wanted to take a few minutes to tell people about my experience at the interview, so, hopefully, it will help others that are looking for jobs and may be interviewing soon.
The best advice I can give people that are about to interview is bring a portfolio of your work. This is the first interview I have had that I actually brought my portfolio and I have to admit I really underestimated its power. It made the whole interview process a lot easier. I didn't have to rely on trying to describe projects to them. Any questions they asked me about my experience, I could just open my portfolio and show them the work I did. It was a lot easier to talk about the project when I had something to show.
The interview itself was formal and very structured, but it was also really relaxed. Some of the questioned they asked were very specific about my experience. They asked about my experience news writing, technical writing, editing, and web developing. Luckily for me, I have experience doing all. In our field, these are the types of questions we can expect. This is where the portfolio comes in handy. Employers care more about your experience working on projects than they do about your time spent in classes. I advise you to think about your projects before hand, think about your role in the project and the thought process that went into it. It is a good idea to tell them about the challenges you faced and how you overcame them.
It's hard to prepare for an interview because you never know what they are going to ask you, but you can prepare for what you want them to know about you. If you can take what you've prepared and shape it to fit their questions, you've got it made. They asked me some weird things like am I good listener and how to do I know? That was a tough one, but I responded by saying what? I wasn't listening. That got a laugh and gave me time to think about a response. It's good to be relaxed, and you should be relaxed because you know, it's only your career on the line. You have to realize the interviewers don't bite. Be yourself during the interview. That's who they want to hirer, not that guy that fakes it for a job. Unless you're a complete tool, your actual personality is going to be a huge selling point. I say have fun and be confident. Do not sell the work you've done short. Be proud of it, and let them know you are ready for the challenges of the job.
That's about all I have to talk about for now. I hope this helps those of you that are looking for jobs and internships. If I don't get the job at the U of M, I will write another blog telling you to ignore all I said in this one. So long for now and take care my Tech Comm Comrades.
The best advice I can give people that are about to interview is bring a portfolio of your work. This is the first interview I have had that I actually brought my portfolio and I have to admit I really underestimated its power. It made the whole interview process a lot easier. I didn't have to rely on trying to describe projects to them. Any questions they asked me about my experience, I could just open my portfolio and show them the work I did. It was a lot easier to talk about the project when I had something to show.
The interview itself was formal and very structured, but it was also really relaxed. Some of the questioned they asked were very specific about my experience. They asked about my experience news writing, technical writing, editing, and web developing. Luckily for me, I have experience doing all. In our field, these are the types of questions we can expect. This is where the portfolio comes in handy. Employers care more about your experience working on projects than they do about your time spent in classes. I advise you to think about your projects before hand, think about your role in the project and the thought process that went into it. It is a good idea to tell them about the challenges you faced and how you overcame them.
It's hard to prepare for an interview because you never know what they are going to ask you, but you can prepare for what you want them to know about you. If you can take what you've prepared and shape it to fit their questions, you've got it made. They asked me some weird things like am I good listener and how to do I know? That was a tough one, but I responded by saying what? I wasn't listening. That got a laugh and gave me time to think about a response. It's good to be relaxed, and you should be relaxed because you know, it's only your career on the line. You have to realize the interviewers don't bite. Be yourself during the interview. That's who they want to hirer, not that guy that fakes it for a job. Unless you're a complete tool, your actual personality is going to be a huge selling point. I say have fun and be confident. Do not sell the work you've done short. Be proud of it, and let them know you are ready for the challenges of the job.
That's about all I have to talk about for now. I hope this helps those of you that are looking for jobs and internships. If I don't get the job at the U of M, I will write another blog telling you to ignore all I said in this one. So long for now and take care my Tech Comm Comrades.
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